Slapstick comedy is an underrated gem in our modern cinematic times, and Husbands in Action (Nampyeondeul) is a reminder of why this kind of humor works. It’s fun, needlessly stupid, and when done right, it slaps. Husbands in Action captures that zany energy whilst letting its gradual focus on the wife guys at its center eventually steal the show. Wife guys should be celebrated, and Husbands in Action does just that while fully embracing the dumb energy each husband (ex or otherwise) exudes.
The wife guys in question, at least the first two, are narcotics investigator Hwang Choong-sik (Jin Seon-kyu) and veterinarian Lee Min-seok (Gong Myung). Choong-sik is the ex-husband of Si-nae (Kang Han-na), while Min-seok is the current husband. All three are the parents of the incredibly adorable Yeon-ju (Oh Eun-seo). Hot on the heels of the recent arrest of the drug lord Ma Do-jun (Kim Ji-seok), Choong-sik’s only conflicts are surviving the wrath of his ex, spoiling his daughter rotten, and battling it out with Min-seok over dad privileges.
Unfortunately, Choong-sik’s action comes back to haunt him when his daughter and ex-wife are kidnapped by Do-jun’s wife, Hye-ran (Lee Da-hee), the brains behind the operation. Further complicating matters is the recently released drug lord, Kim Yong-gang (Yoon Kyung-ho), who seeks to take back the territory Do-jun took from him while he was incarcerated. From wild car stunts to wife guys hulking out to strange dog roleplay to get through life-or-death scenarios, this film achieves a bonkers level of stupidity and amusement.
As reluctant partners in Husbands in Action, Jin Seon-kyu and Gong Myung nail the comedic chemistry.
Directed by Park Gyu-tae, Husbands in Action leans into its comedy from the jump. Introducing us to the film’s villains first, Kim Ji-seok relishes in his character’s eccentricities while Lee Da-hae keeps her character’s energy cool, calm, and collected. It’s a fascinating contrast that the two create and play off of, making them a formidable force against whoever tries to bring them down. It would take someone equally crazy to succeed in going after them. Cue our titular husbands: Choong-sik and Min-seok.
There’s plenty of natural drama between Choong-sik and Min-seok, with one being the ex-husband and one the current husband of Si-nae. That alone creates a fun yet tense dynamic that intensifies once the kidnapping is underway. Both Jin Seon-kyu and Gong Myung capture the intense, over-the-top nature of their characters, with each getting their moments to shine rather than one overpowering the other. What expectations one might have when introduced to the two are completely upended by the end of Husbands in Action, making them rather surprising in their similarities and differences.
Of course, there has to be a character who plays everything straight in this style of comedy, and that character in Husbands in Action is Kim Yong-gang. Yoon Kyung-ho plays the drug lord with such seriousness that it creates a needed balance, keeping the tone tipping all the way over to the edge. This also helps punctuate the run-on gag surrounding his name, fueling his fire and frustration towards those who won’t put some respect on his name.
Yes, there’s action, but the gags steal the show.
Despite these strong characters, Husbands in Action struggles with its broader cast, particularly with its female characters. Given how Choong-sik, Min-seok, and even Do-jun value their wives (though Choong-sik is more focused on his daughter than on his ex) and come across as peak wife guys, the film doesn’t flesh out the women enough to wholly satisfy. You get some idea of Hye-ran being the brains over Do-jun’s brawn, but Kang Han-na gets little work with as Si-nae, except to remind the audience that she knows judo.
Similarly, the addition of journalist Jo A-ra (Jeon So-min) ultimately didn’t add much to an already busy cast of characters. She mainly operates as a possible love interest for Choong-sik and moves a character from one place to another. With so much going on and bouncing between different character groups, A-ra is one character who barely made an impression and could likely have been cut for time and pacing.
With its equally impressive action (and a brilliant use of animation to convey a character’s inner world), the comedy isn’t the only thing keeping Husbands in Action afloat. With its high-intensity kidnapping plot, car chases, boat chases, paragliding incidents, and a freezer hulk out that is reminiscent of Naked Gun antics, there’s never a dull moment to be found in this latest action-comedy. And at the center of it all are just some wife guys trying to do their best to bring their family home, even if they may happen to be on opposing sides.
Husbands in Action is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Husbands in Action
7.5/10
TL;DR
With its high-intensity kidnapping plot, car chases, boat chases, paragliding incidents, and a freezer hulk out that is reminiscent of Naked Gun antics, there’s never a dull moment to be found in this latest action-comedy.